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MPs, please pass Bill to save dream

Tuesday March 29 2016

In Summary

I am pleading with our Members of Parliament to consider the future of this country

Brazil passed their anti-doping law in a record one day.

We cannot gamble with the future of this country, knowing what crucial role sports has played and continue to play in the economy of this great nation.

The Anti-Doping Bill 2016, which seeks to proscribe doping, was only brought to Parliament on March 24.

This was despite the announcement by Sports Cabinet Secretary, Hassan Wario, that it had been taken to the National Assembly on March 21. It was brought to the National Assembly on Thursday from the Attorney General’s Office.

However, after many twists and turns, after many acrimonious exchanges and threat to bar Kenya from international competition, the Bill is finally in Parliament, ready to be enacted into law.

With the Wada deadline of April 5 (Friday next week) when we must have passed the law prohibiting doping, or we are declared non-compliant to Wada Code, and our Parliament going on recess (April 1 - April 10), we have only this week to pass this Bill.

I am pleading with our Members of Parliament to consider the future of this country, the future of the youth of this country, their legacy and spare no effort in passing this Bill this week so the President can assent it to Law.

Brazil did the same, passed their anti-doping law in a record one day. We cannot gamble with the future of this country, knowing what crucial role sports has played and continue to play in the economy of this great nation.

We cannot afford to be banned from Olympics because that will be a disaster for our great nation. I am pleading with our MPs to rise above all partisan interests and put the nation ahead of everything else to pass this crucial Bill.

It will open the doors to our youths and avoid any doubt in the minds of the world that we are serious with doping matters.

Long live our youth, long live our nation.

Dr Kipchoge Keino is a legendary Kenyan athlete and the Chairman, National Olympic Committee of Kenya